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Audit finds priority neighborhoods received equal or higher Beautify SJ services; council directs staff to design targeted blight pilot
Summary
A city audit found that priority equity communities received equal or higher access to the Beautify SJ neighborhood blight reduction programs. San José City Council unanimously directed staff to prepare a memorandum of budget and analysis (MBA) to design a geographically focused outreach, education and enforcement pilot for systemic blight.
San José City Council on Tuesday accepted an independent audit finding that priority equity communities received equal or higher levels of service from the city’s Beautify SJ neighborhood blight reduction programs and directed staff to return with a funding plan for a targeted pilot to address persistent blight.
The audit, presented by City Auditor Joe Royce, compared service access using three equity lenses — the Healthy Places Index, the San José Equity Atlas and Metropolitan Transportation Commission equity priority communities — and examined program data, service timeliness and outreach. Royce said the audit found priority communities received a higher proportion of Beautify SJ grants and dumpster days than other areas and that response times for graffiti and illegal dumping showed no discernible difference across neighborhoods.
"The objective of this audit was to assess the access to and use of Beautify SJ’s neighborhood blight reduction and beautification programs by traditionally marginalized communities," City Auditor Joe Royce said during the presentation.
The audit also recommended the city maintain and review disaggregated program data, improve translation options on SJ 311 and PRNS web pages, and add accessibility information for volunteer events. The report included six recommendations intended to help PRNS and partner departments ensure continued equitable service delivery.
Councilmember Raul Ortiz, who sponsored a memo asking staff to scope a geographically focused outreach, education and enforcement pilot, said equity in treatment does not always equal equity in outcome and pushed for a targeted, place-based response in council districts with recurring blight.
"These scores seem to be a very accurate predictor of where systemic blight is located," Ortiz said. "I'm glad we responded at the same time as we respond to every district, but there are districts that are perennially dirtier and need more targeted work." He moved the memo directing staff to prepare an MBA; Councilmember Dwan seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Administration staff accepted the recommendations in principle during the hearing and said some targeted pilots have been piloted previously (for example, the Monterey Corridor) and that staff will explore options and costs in the MBA requested by council.
The audit covered the FY 2024–25 budget for the programs, listed in the audit as $10,300,000, and noted opportunities to expand translated materials and accessibility information for volunteers.
Council directed staff to return with the MBA outlining funding and program design options for a geographically focused pilot aimed at neighborhoods with systemic blight.
